wife Maria, the daughter of his general Stilicho. He affectionately embraced his sister and courteously returned the salutation of the good father, but continued inflexible in his determination to allow the games, although earnestly dissuaded from it by his sister and the monk, in whose entreaties the empress also joined. Honorius, naturally weak-minded, had suffered himself to be so fully persuaded by his counsellors of the necessity of conciliating the people, by an indulgence with regard to their favourite games, that, although his disposition was not by nature cruel,-indeed, he had on humane grounds frequently objected to these exhibitions, yet he continued inexorable, and even announced his intention of being present himself. But, when he added that it would be more politic for the whole of his family to be there, Maria and Placidia both so earnestly deprecated it, that he was induced, though reluctantly, to abandon this part of his scheme; for, with that infatuation which so strongly marked his character, he really believed this cruel policy to be the best. Alas! although a nominal Christian, he knew not, or had forgotten, that none may do evil that good may follow.

"And now," said Honorius, "I must pray you, sweet sister, and you, reverend father, to excuse this short visit, for time presses, and I have business in hand that may not be delayed; but I leave Maria as my substitute, and I doubt not that you will find no cause to regret my absence." He raised his wife's hand to his lips as he spoke, and then gracefully withdrew, leaving them in a state of feeling that but ill accorded with his lightness and pleasantry of manner.

The sorrowful group remained for some time without speaking, when the empress, at last breaking the silence, said, "Honorius is strangely wilful in this matter; I am afraid all opposition will be useless. May I ask you, father, if you have seen my brother?"

"I have, my daughter," answered Stephanos.

He then told her of his intention concerning those games, and how Adrian had dissuaded him from it.

Maria instantly joined Placidia in begging him not to peril so valuable a life; but their united entreaties were unable to shake his resolve, and the two fair girls knelt to receive his parting blessing with heavy and anxious hearts. The father placed his hands upon their meekly bent heads; and after committing them affectionately and fervently to the protecting care of their Father in heaven, he quitted the apartment. Placidia still continued kneeling in the same spot, and burst into a passionate flood of tears. The pure and holy words of the good monk's blessing were still ringing in her ears; she had a fearful presentiment that they were the last she would ever hear from him.

On the day of the games, the great Flavian amphitheatre presented a coup d'œil of extraordinary magnificence. The sun shone brightly on the vast assembly, and his rays were reflected back from the jewelled and glittering attire of not less than eighty thousand spectators; while the approach to the amphitheatre was crowded with the lofty chariots of the patricians and wealthy plebeians, many of them of massive silver, curiously wrought, with the trappings of their horses and mules richly embossed and ornamented with gold; while the luxurious owners made an ostentatious display of their opulence, in the ponderous magnificence of their attire. Their long robes of purple silk floating on the soft breeze, occasionally discovered, as they were moved by art or accident, their rich tunics, gorgeously embroidered with the figures of various animals; while bands of soft music, heard at different distances, completed the enchantment of the scene.

A short time before the commencement of the games, the podium, or principal gallery of the Colosseum, was filled with the Roman nobles; the most distinguished places being occupied by the senators, foreign ambassadors, and great officers of state. In the midst of these was the emperor's seat, called, by way of eminence, the suggestum; while from the podium, the rows of benches occupied by the Roman citizens extended in

one long, graduated, and concentric series, divided only by radiating flights of steps, by which they were formed into what was called the cunei, or wedges; and above these again was a long covered gallery, adorned by a peristyle, or encircling range of columns, and entirely reserved for the use of the Roman ladies.

On the arrival of the emperor the signal was given for the games to commence. Immediately large dens, placed round the arena, were thrown open, and five hundred half-starved and infuriated animals rushed forth to commence their work of destruction on each other. When the people were sufficiently satiated with this spectacle, the dead and dying beasts were removed, fresh sand was strewn over the arena, and the spectators prepared to turn from the contemplation of one horror to another, more exciting than the last, as it afforded a view of human agony. A door situated under the podium flew suddenly open, and a number of tall, wellmade men, having the air of soldiers, entered the arena. On beholding them, the multitude gave a loud shout of joy. Their burnished arms flashed and glittered in the sunbeams, forming a strong contrast to the wretchedness depicted on most of their countenances. When they had made the circuit of the arena, an aged Roman who directed their movements assembled them in pairs, according to their height, strength, and agility. Then, laying aside their arms, they commenced, with wooden swords, a series of single combats, in which they displayed surprising address. A single glance sufficed to inform the young Adrian, who, with his father, occupied a position close to the emperor, that the unfortunate brothers were, as he had expected, coupled together. Then, casting his eyes over the immense multitude, he looked anxiously around for the monk, who, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a trumpet gave the signal for the pretended combats to cease. The director of the games took from the combatants the light arms with which they had hitherto fought, and returned to them instead

their real weapons. To some he gave swords and bucklers; to others, called retiarii, a trident or spear in their left hands, and a net in their right; whilst their antagonists had bucklers and helmets, on which a fish was depicted, in allusion to the net; these last were called secutores, and their weapon was a scimitar. At the commencement of the combat, when the youngest of the unfortunate brothers perceived that he was to take part against the elder, he instantly resolved on his own death, and determined not to improve any advantage *he might gain over Attalus; for, thought the generous youth, I shall not be missed in our home, while my brother has a wife and children to lament his loss. Thoughts of an equally noble nature passed through the mind of Attalus, on account of the other's extreme youth; and the two brothers therefore advanced to the deadly encounter without any visible reluctance.

Meanwhile the eyes of the young Adrian had been engaged in an unsuccessful search for the well-known figure of his friend, and he at last began to hope that the precautions he had taken had proved effectual; for he had given orders that all the doors leading into the arena should be strictly guarded, and no one on any pretence allowed to enter; when an unanimous shout of "Hoc habet!"- he has it-caused him to turn towards the arena. He there beheld Attalus stretched on the ground, from a deep wound in his side, which he had succeeded in forcing his younger brother to give him. The wounded man lay perfectly motionless; he had heard" heard, but heeded not"-the shouts that hailed his fall, for his thoughts had already wandered to his far distant home; in fancy he again was with his wife and his innocent children, whom he should never more behold

He, their sire,

Butchered, to make a Roman holiday."

Meanwhile the miserable Ataulphus, whose generous purpose was thus defeated, stood looking up, with an

agonized expression, to his judges, as if imploring them to spare his brother's life; but the spectators had observed something of backwardness in the prostrate man's defence, and accordingly sealed his doom by bending back their thumbs. The unfortunate Ataulphus durst not spare his fallen brother. He felt stunned and bewildered; the arena swam around him, and he mechanically raised his hand, as if to give the fatal blow. But ere it could descend, his arm was arrested by a young man in the garb of a monk, who had suddenly bounded over the low wall which separated the arena from the podium. It was indeed the noble Stephanos, who had arrived in time to prevent the consummation of this frightful crime. There he stood, over the prostrate Goth, his look calm, pure, and holy as ever; while, with his hands raised in an imploring attitude, he thus addressed the excited spectators:- "Brethren, Romans, you cannot be so lost to all feeling and sense of right, as thus to compel one brother to take the life of another? Pause, I beseech you, ere you commit this crime; abolish these monstrous cruelties."

But the words of the intrepid monk were arrested by a shower of stones hurled at him by the angry multitude, who were enraged at the interruption to their favourite pastime. He sank on one knee, but still endeavoured to make himself heard, though his words were scarcely audible amidst the tumult. "May God forgive you, as I do, my brethren," said he, as he fell beneath a fresh volley of stones, which continued for some seconds with unabated vigour; and his last faintly murmured words were, "Jesus, receive the soul of Thy servant, and grant that my blood may be the last shed in this place!" Then, like the great proto-martyr whose name he bore, he fell asleep.

All this passed in less time than it takes to relate it, and before the horror-struck Honorius or Adrian could interpose; indeed, it would have been worse than useless to attempt to still the ungoverned rage of the multitude. When it was partly spent, the people paused,